It’s a proven fact. The reaction is both dynamic and energetic when Clay Millican wins an NHRA Top Fuel drag race.
Those who know Millican will attest that this assessment is no surprise. He’s all of those characteristics and more wrapped up into one.
Years after winning multiple IHRA championships and leaving the series as its winningest driver, Millican scored his first NHRA Top Fuel race in 2018 at Route 66 Raceway, the same place he’d made a forgettable debut two decades earlier.
Last season, Millican broke a nearly five-year winless streak in the NHRA’s return to the Windy City.
Two weeks ago at the NHRA 4-Wide Nationals outside of Charlotte, Millican drove the Parts Plus/Rick Ware Racing dragster to a runner-up finish.
“That racetrack and I have had a special bond over the years,” Millican said. “Going into that race last year, we were obviously struggling. Something happened between Saturday and Sunday, and it was the beginning of our good run. That Sunday was pretty dang epic for everyone on our team.
“Having been gone from Chicago for a few years, for the people in that area, it was like an old friend showing up. It was a great crowd, and hopefully, we just continue that trend. Last year came out great, and it was a heck of a return to a beautiful facility.”
The final round finish from Charlotte qualified Millican for the opportunity to try and double-up. He earned a berth in the Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge on Saturday.
The field is loaded for the NHRA Route 66 Nationals presented by Peak, with 22 cars entered.
“It’s always a thing of thinking you can win versus you actually doing it,” Millican said. “What winning does is just a confidence thing. This team, they’ve got the confidence, and there’s no doubt in their mind anymore. I am way more excited about where we are this year (going to Chicago) than where we were last year when we had not won a single round.
“(This year), the car started coming around in Vegas, and in Charlotte, we made two personal-best speed runs for everyone on this team (337.66 mph and 337.92 mph), which tells you the engine is good. I’m pretty confident with how we’re going to do the rest of the year. It’s just come together quicker than it did last year.”
